Awful and strange science experiments involving animals

Some of these scientists contributed to the greater good. Others, we're not so sure.

By Dana Guthrie

on May 8, 2014 2:02 PM

Photo: Getty Images

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For the past 17 years A&M veterinarian researchers have been injecting pregnant sheep with alcohol to attempt to simulate the effects of binge drinking in pregnant women, hoping to unlock new information about fetal alcohol syndrome, according to the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. Click through the slideshow to see more strange experiments performed on animals in the name of science. less

For the past 17 years A&M veterinarian researchers have been injecting pregnant sheep with alcohol to attempt to simulate the effects of binge drinking in pregnant women, hoping to unlock new information about ... more

Houston’s MD Anderson Cancer Center used genetic engineering to make a baby mouse using the DNA of two male mice. According to LiveScience.com, the researchers turned XY cells from one mouse into X stem cells, then mated those stem cells with XY cells from the other male mouse. The baby mouse made from male-only DNA then was born from a female mouse. less

A mouse with two dads

Houston’s MD Anderson Cancer Center used genetic engineering to make a baby mouse using the DNA of two male mice. According to LiveScience.com, the researchers turned XY cells from one ... more

Scientists funded in part by Taser International wanted to know why meth-intoxicated suspects kept dying when police used Tasers on the suspects. So, Popular Science reports, they gave methamphetamines to 16 sheep and then shocked them with Tasers. None of the sheep died as a result of the Tasings. less

Surgeon Vladimir P. Demikhov was the first person to perform a successful coronary artery bypass, while experimenting on a dog on July 29, 1953. Unfortunately, he also grafted the head and front legs of a puppy onto the neck of an adult dog, exposing Demikhov to ridicule in the scientific community. less

This study gave MDMA to rats to see what the drugs’ effect would be on the rats’ sexual activity. They found that the drug decreased sexual activity, especially in male rats. However, when the researchers blasted “loud music, which is commonly present in certain environments such as rave parties,” the rats’ sexual activity increased. less

Lame rat party

This study gave MDMA to rats to see what the drugs’ effect would be on the rats’ sexual activity. They found that the drug decreased sexual activity, especially in male rats. However, when ... more

Photo: Melina Souza Photography, Getty Images

Lame rat party
This study gave MDMA to rats to see what... Photo-6275931.85422 - Houston Chronicle

Science has made glowing pigs, sheep, rabbits, monkeys, dogs and cats. If they make glowing cockroaches, we’re leaving.

Animals that glow in the dark

Science has made glowing pigs, sheep, rabbits, monkeys, dogs and cats. If they make glowing cockroaches, we’re leaving.

Photo: CHOI BYUNG-KIL, YONHAP NEWS AGENCY

Animals that glow in the dark
Science has made glowing... Photo-1153041.85422 - Houston Chronicle

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New-agey music helps no one

Researchers in Japan gave heart transplants to mice and then exposed them to either opera music, classical music, a single sound frequency or Enya (yes, Enya). They found that the mice exposed to opera or classical music recovered better after surgery than the control mice. Those exposed to Enya did not. less

New-agey music helps no one
Researchers in Japan gave heart... Photo-6275911.85422 - Houston Chronicle

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The question every 4-year-old has thought of

Once, a guy in Singapore wondered how Chinese softshell turtles pee. And because this guy happened to be a scientist, he found a way to get paid to discover how Chinese softshell turtles pee, and it’s really weird. If you want to know, Chron.com’s SciGuy has the answer. less

The question every 4-year-old has thought of

Once, a guy in Singapore wondered how Chinese softshell turtles pee. And because this guy happened to be a scientist, he found a way to get paid to discover how ... more

Photo: Frank Greenaway, Getty Images

The question every 4-year-old has thought of
Once, a guy in... Photo-6275908.85422 - Houston Chronicle

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Mice with a little extra “swagger”

Scientists at MIT were trying to study the effects of yogurt on obesity in mice when they discovered something they weren’t looking to find out: Mice that ate yogurt had larger testicles. This was in 2012, and we’re not sure why but most yogurt commercials are still aimed at women. less

Mice with a little extra “swagger”

Scientists at MIT were trying to study the effects of yogurt on obesity in mice when they discovered something they weren’t looking to find out: Mice that ate yogurt ... more

Researchers from the Sony Computer Science Laboratory in Paris wanted to see if a dog robot could be used to study dog social behaviors by seeing whether the dogs would react to a furry robot in the same way they would to a real puppy. The dogs did approach the furry dog robot to investigate it, but decided it was scary and stayed far away. less

This guy lives for his job
A scientist ate a small, skinned... Photo-6275913.85422 - Houston Chronicle

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Most disturbing ear since Van Gogh’s ear

In 1997, tissue engineer Joseph Vacanti, MD, grew a human ear on the back of a mouse, now known as the Vacanti mouse. Now, the “ear” was made of cow cells and was more like ear-shaped cartilage than an actual ear, but it’s still just as creepy and ear-shaped. less